IMM Cologne 2006: the Fair (1)

Nature Rules.
It definitely rules this edition of Cologne's furniture fair. Nature inspires the shapes, the colours, the patterns and the materials of most products presented.
Some are very figurative, take Swedese's Tree Wall coat hunger by Michael Young and Katrin Petursdottir; the new flower decorated upholstery of the Bilbao lounge chair; the Flower coffee table by Christine Schwarzer or Nendo's Snow table and the latest Polar table with overlaping patterns. Another example is Bonaldo's new Tree coat hunger by Mario Mazzer.
In other cases Nature is the inspiration behind the applied patterns. Italian company Zanotta presented its collection in a flowery semi trasparent space created by perforated panels, showcasing the floral decorations of the Dora armchair designed by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba and the new upholstery for a modern classic and the Sacco easy chair designed back in 1968.
Vitra has also been struck by Nature, but in this case the result is a bit less obvious and much more refined. Jongerius's Polder assymetrical sofa which name refers to the tracts of land reclaimed from the sea in Holland is decorated with large buttons made of natural materials like horn, bamboo and mother of pearl and the mushroom shaped pouf Bovist is enriched with various motifs.

Swedese